5 Reasons To Adventure Solo

Journeying into the backcountry with friends is much safer and can be a great time. However, people just piss you off sometimes, and they’re the reason to escape into the wild, I get it. Solo hiking can be a peaceful experience, it allows for a time to reflect and center yourself. Here are five reasons to go it alone on your next adventure.

Peace and Quiet:

One of the major advantages of going into nature is for the tranquility that it provides. There’s really no better way to get the full benefit than to experience it alone. All there is to listen to is the wind through the trees, the occasional rustling of small creatures and birds, and your own thoughts. Get out of the hustle and bustle of life and escape into wilderness.

Move at Your Own Pace:

When trekking with a group or even one other person we can find ourselves trying to accommodate others. We may be constantly trying to keep up or constantly slowing down so as not to lose the integrity of the pack. Either way, whether slowing down or pushing forward, this causes a loss in our own enjoyment and the reward of the adventure. Going solo allows us to choose the pace we prefer to enjoy the surroundings. Either at a slow easy pace or a sprint to the finish!

Be on Your Own Schedule:

Too often do we find ourselves relying on others to determine if we will go or not. If you’re going alone the only person holding you back or preventing you form hitting the trail is yourself. Constantly depending on your buddy to get their act together only keeps you from scrambling up steep trails, crossing waterways, exploring thick forests, and summiting mountains, which is what you really want, right? Going solo also affords you the ability to plan the trip how you like, you can hit the trail when you want and leave the trail when you want.

Build Confidence:

The best way to build confidence is to be confident and show yourself that you can do something. If hiking alone isn’t something you do regularly, but it’s intriguing and seems to be the best way to go, give it a shot and see what you think. Going solo is a freeing experience and pushes the edges of your comfort zone outward. You’re sure to get a ton more exposure to the backcountry. Nothing’s cooler than looking back and saying: “I did that, and I did it on my own.”

Center Yourself:

Every now and again we all need a reset, whether that’s from the mundane, work, relationships or just looking for more out of life. Going into nature will only provide a renewed perspective. As John Muir said: “Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of autumn.”